The Cliff House is a modern dwelling designed by Altius Architecture, set on the cliffside overlooking beautiful Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada. This cottage seeks to enhance the extraordinary surrounding scenery through the thoughtful integration of building elements with the natural assets of the site and terrain. Here is a project description from the architects, “this dwelling emerges from the rock formation of the cliff using the same local granite to form its base. A central core acts as an anchor that circulates movement, light and air into the living spaces that pinwheel and cantilever off into the landscape. In spite of its modest scale, the residence easily accommodates the family of four by providing amenity for dinning, cooking, living, reading and sleeping which are each carefully tuned to the unique view, light and breezes of the cliff. To balance the heavy mass derived from the fireplaces; cantilevered volumes, flying roofs and floor to ceiling glass are used to achieve a lightness of form as it works to bring the lake into the living spaces.”

Sustainability measures were very important to the homeowners, as they wished to have their retreat from urban life completely off grid. To achieve this, the architects implemented a green roofs, solar shading, natural ventilation, geothermal systems photovoltaic panels, thermal mass rainwater tanks, hydronic radiant flooring, energy efficient appliances and LED lighting.